{"product_id":"divine-comedy-of-dante-alighieri-volume-1-inferno-hardcover","title":"Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: Volume 1: Inferno - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDante Alighieri\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRonald L. Martinez\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eRobert M. Durling\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis first volume of Robert Durling's new translation of \u003cem\u003eThe Divine Comedy\u003c\/em\u003e brings a new power and accuracy to the rendering of Dante's extraordinary vision of Hell, with all its terror, pathos, and humor. Remarkably true to both the letter and spirit of this central work of Western literature, Durling's is a prose translation (the first to appear in twenty-five years), and is thus free of the exigencies of meter and rhyme that hamper recent verse translations. As Durling notes, \"the closely literal style is a conscious effort to convey in part the nature of Dante's Italian, notoriously craggy and difficult even for Italians.\" Rigorously accurate as to meaning, it is both clear and supple, while preserving to an unparalleled degree the order and emphases of Dante's complex syntax.\u003cbr\u003e The Durling-Martinez \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e is also user-friendly. The Italian text, newly edited, is printed on each verso page; the English mirrors it in such a way that readers can easily find themselves in relation to the original \u003cem\u003eterza rima\u003c\/em\u003e. Designed with the first-time reader of Dante in mind, the volume includes comprehensive notes and textual commentary by Martinez and Durling: both are life-long students of Dante and other medieval writers (their \u003cem\u003ePurgatorio\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eParadiso\u003c\/em\u003e will appear next year). Their introduction is a small masterpiece of its kind in presenting lucidly and concisely the historical and conceptual background of the poem. Sixteen short essays are provided that offer new inquiry into such topics as the autobiographical nature of the poem, Dante's views on homosexuality, and the recurrent, problematic body analogy (Hell has a structure parallel to that of the human body). The extensive notes, containing much new material, explain the historical, literary, and doctrinal references, present what is known about the damned souls Dante meets --from the lovers who spend eternity in the whirlwind of their passion, to Count Ugolino, who perpetually gnaws at his enemy's skull--disentangle the vexed party politics of Guelfs and Ghibellines, illuminate difficult and disputed passages, and shed light on some of Dante's unresolved conflicts.\u003cbr\u003e Robert Turner's illustrations include detailed maps of Italy and several of its regions, clearly labeled diagrams of the cosmos and the structure of Hell, and eight line drawings illustrating objects and places mentioned in the poem. With its exceptionally high standard of typography and design, the Durling-Martinez \u003cem\u003eInferno\u003c\/em\u003e offers readers a solid cornerstone for any home library. It will set the standard for years to come.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRobert M. Durling\u003c\/strong\u003e is Professor Emeritus of Italian and English Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His translation of \u003cem\u003ePetrarch's Lyric Poetry\u003c\/em\u003e (1976) has been widely acclaimed.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRonald L. Martinez\u003c\/strong\u003e is Associate Professor of Italian at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is the author of articles on Dante, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, and Ariosto.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Turner\u003c\/strong\u003e has been a professional illustrator since 1979; he is employed as a graphic artist in archaeology at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 672\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.95 x 9.6 x 6.51 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 29, 1996\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42103138451591,"sku":"9780195087406","price":94.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/9a0a31398ac8f4d27094dcfef17111d7.webp?v=1732410675","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/divine-comedy-of-dante-alighieri-volume-1-inferno-hardcover","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}